Landscape Attractions

Sir, - Dr Niamh Whitfield asks (June 11th) if the Irish have lost sight of the value of their unspoilt landscape and its attraction…

Sir, - Dr Niamh Whitfield asks (June 11th) if the Irish have lost sight of the value of their unspoilt landscape and its attraction for tourists. The answer is, sadly, that in some we cases we most definitely have.

I took a visitor to the Cliffs of Moher recently. I will not be going again and I will not be advising anybody to go there either, as I used to do. Drive into the car park and look for the glorious view of sea cliffs and distant horizon - weather permitting - and what do you see? Not glorious scenery but tatty lock-up shops more fitted to the dodgier tourist areas of third world countries than the Cliffs of Moher. This is all the more regrettable as there is a beautifully designed Tourist Centre situated within a few yards of these excresences that has a good range of tourist products and which does not impinge on the view that the tourist has come to see.

Can it be possible that these outlets are legally permitted to be where they are? - Yours, etc., - B.F.B. Lougheed,

Killarney, Co Kerry.